Apparatus for raising sunken ships



July 7, 1925. 1,545,417

` L. FIORlLLO APPARATUS FOR `RAISNGr SUNKEN SHIPS Filed July 21.` 1923 ssheetssheet 1 L M A 37 July 7, 1925.

1,545,417 L. FIORILLC APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS Filed July 21,1923 6 Sheets-Sh`et 5 Syvum-Hoz e0/acido Eby/2280 L. FIORILLO APPARATUSFOR RAISvING SUNKEN SHIPS A Ju'ly 7, 1925. f 1,545,417

Filed July 21, 1925 6 snveet-sneet 4 July 7, 1925.

L. FIORILLO APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS aan July 7, 1925. 1 A,1,545,417

L. FIORILLO APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS Filed July 21I 1925 v 6Sheets-Sheet 6 fluor nu;

panying drawings 4in which: L y

PatentedA July 7, 1,925.

' UNITED STATESk `LEOPOLDO rIORILLo, OF NICE, FRANCE.

i "APPARATUS ron RAI-.sinev sUNKEN SHIPS.

Application Vfiled July 21, 1923. vSerial No. 653,039.

To all/whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, LEOPOLDO Fiorino, a subject of the King of Italy,`residing at Nice, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in`Apparatus ,for Itaising Sunken Ships, -of Which the following is aspecification. y

This invention relates `to salvage apparatus and has for itsy object theprovision of novel means for indicating the location of a sunken shipand means for eifecting raising, the invention being capable ofapplication to ships or vessels of all types and sizes. U

An important object isthe provision of an apparatus of this characterincluding buoys which are carried bythe ship and which will rise to thesurface of t-he Water in case the ship sinks, one embodiment having suchan arrangement that the buoys will be automatically released when theship is submerged and another embodiment having means for effecting`manual release of the buoy, the latter variation being particularlydesigned for use upon submarines.

Yet another object is the provision of a form of buoy carrying normallyinactive but automatically' released aerial masts which facilitate thesendingout of radio messages and appeals for assistance.

.Another object is the provision of a form of buoy equipped withhand-h-olds whereby quite a large number of survivors of a marinedisaster may support themselves in comparative safety pending thearrival of help.

A still further object is the provision of means mounted on the vesseland connected with the ioat whereby a hoisting grapple may be loweredfrom -a rescuing vessel and guided to a co-acting holding device on thesubmerged ship so that lifting poWermay be -applied for effectingraising.k

The invention also contemplates the provision lof various detailedfeatures of construction. and arrangement ofthe several parts Whichcooperate to constitute an apparatus or mechanism which will beextremely efficient and. positive in action,- durable in service7 and ageneral improvement in the art. l

With the above and other objects and advantages in View, the inventionconsists in the combination and arrangement of parts to behereinaftermore fully .described and claimed and illustrated in the raccomxFigure 1is a sectional View through one of the units of my invention showing theform adapted to be lbuilt into the hull of a ship such-as a submarine.

,Figure 2 isa vertical section at righ angles to Figure 1. f l

Figure 3 is a detail cross section on Athe line 3 3 of Figure 1. y y

Figure 4: 4is a longitudinal section on a larger scale through Atheextensible aerial mast. y L j.

Figure 5 is a view illustrating they action When the submarine is sunkand the buoys released. l

Figure 6 is a similar view showing a rescuing ship as loweringthehoisting grapples.;

Figure 7 is a detail section on Athe same plane as Figure 1, sho-Wingthe engagement of the hoisting grapple With the catch de vice. v

Figure 8 is adet'ail side view of the hoisting grapple.

F igure 9 is anl edgepview thereof partly in section. n

Figure 10 is a side elevation partly in section showing the form ofdevice used for installation upon ships other than submarines, this viewbeing taken substantially along the line 10--10 off'Figure 11.

Figure 11 is a cross section taken lsubstantially along the line11-11'of Figure 10.-

Figure 12V is a plan view of the 'reel mechanism and associated parts.

Figure 13 is a view showing a sunken surface vessel equipped with mydevice, the buoys being in their released andoperative positions. 5' Y:

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that Ihave constructed the ydevice 'for applicationY upon and to bexbuilt intosubmarines and, have constructed it as an attachment to be mounted uponthe deck orlotherlconvenient portion of a ship of the surface type. y f

In applying the invention to a submersible, Iform the hull A of the shipwith aI pocket or chamber 15 Which is open-toppedand which may be [ofany preferred specific design andof any shape and size found; mostadvantageous kfor installation and reception therein of themechanism andfloat to be described. Suitably secured Within the bottom of this pocketor `chamber is a supporting frame 16 Within which is journaled a groovedguide roller 17l in spaced relation to which is located a' secondgroovedroller 18. Also secured in ...the pocket or chamber is abracketstructure/.19in which is journaled a reel or drum 20 to which is securedand upon which isl Wound a cable or other flexible member 21 ywhich isdoubled with its biglit portionsecured to the drum and its ends engagingunder the rollers 17 and 18 and secured to the float -or buoy 22,

Vas shown at 23.

rIhis float orV buoy is of a herinetically sealed tank-like nature andlits within the upper portion of the pocket'orlchaniber 15,

Y retaining chamber, I provide catch devices which include verticalshafts 2G journally mounted in recessesr27` at the sides of the chamberand carrying `heads 28 -whiclrenof the lioat.

gageover the outwardly extending edge-24 Where these shafts pass throughthe bottoms of the recesses and naturally the hull, I providepackingglands 29 whereby to exclude any water which might tend rtoVleakthrough. The 'number of catch devices may of course be4 varied toksuit different conditionsthough in the present instance I haveillustrated 4, two of which have their operating shafts carryingmanually operable levers 30 and the other two of which carry arms 31with whichL are connected cables or other flexible members 32 which aretrained over guide rollers 33,y 34and 35 located at proper points, thelower ends of both flexible members being brought together and connectedwith ya common p ull cable 36 which extends down into.

the hull at `any* desiredpoint'within convenient reach of the operator.course obviousthat, if preferred, the flexible -cables might bevarranged to 'operate vall of i the catches and on the other handit isequally true thatjallof thecatcli'cs iniglht be equipped with manuallyoperating'levers,

variations iii this detail being immaterial.

Pivotally mounted at-'37 upon' the top vof-v the float, is anaerial mastdesignatedbroadly by the numeral` 38 and formed of telescopic sections39, 40 'and 41l normally urged into extended position. by springs 42 and43 but held in retracted position and against the edge of the-float byengagement of the free end ofthe section 41 wit-lia hook 44 on one ofthecatches 28.`It Ais neces` saryz toprovide some means: which will tend t0:throw this aerial or mast finto vertical' position when thehool'r-f44isreleased and' a convenient method of accomplishing this isVis not available.

Vto provide avspring 45 associated with the chamber at a point oppositethe reel 20. N ok attempt is madeto show a diagram of the radioapparatuses such may be of any ordinary orvpreferred type. The free endof this conductor should extendfthrough the pocket intoy the interior'of thehull at some suitable.l point :and Where `this conductor passesythrough-the wall of the float I provide a `packing ygland y51 toprevent leakage of water. f' f i.

Suitably securedwithin the frame 16 is a curved guide 52 spaced from theperiphery of the vgrooved roller 17, `the space having a flaringentrance 53. Pivoted withink this framegimmediately` below the roller17, as shown at 54, is a-pawl having an active arm 55 operating throughan opening 56 in the guide52.: This pawl further includes a handleend 57with which is connected a'coil spring 58 which is in turn suitablyanchored inthe :chamber or'pocket 15 and which operatesfto urge theactive; end of the Ipawl toward the periphery of the roller 17. Thepurpose of this paWl device is toprovide means whereby a grapplingdevice lowered by a rescuing ship'may be properly engaged with the hullor 'mechanism therein for effecting liftingof the sunken submarine. v

v The grappling device intended 4to be used in connection with thiscatch includes a shank 59 carried by a chain 60 of suitable length or byacable or wire chain, if cable Pivote'd at 61 between the U-shaped shank59 are, laterally extending inclined-wings (S2-.normally urged in di-Avergent rela-tion by leaf or other springs 63, either. of which isadapted to be engaged withthe pawl 57. L L y VAssuming that-ay submarineequipped with my device sinks, or that it is unable to rise after havingsubmerged in the usual manner, when the .crew/discovers the danger itlisintended'that the two manual levers 3 0 be-swung to release thecatches 38 `associated-therewith from engagement with the rim 24 ofthefloat. vA pull is then applied to they common. cable. 36 whereupon bothcables 32 will be pulled and will swing the lever 31,-A thereby) turningthe associated catches 28 out vof engagement with' the rim ofthe float.As there is'nothing then to prevent, the iioat will naturallyV riseuntil it reaches the surface of. Ythewater, the cabler4 21 unwindingfrom?. the reel 2O andthe 1 conductor 49 for. `the radio apparatus un-Windingtrom the reel 50. Vhen the floatl reaches the surface the pullupon the flexible members 21 is relieved and they remain- Y lockedWithin the grooves of the guide rollers. When the hooks 28 arereleased,it is` apparent that the hook 44 will move out ofl Assumingthat a rescuing shipl has been attracted by the signals and has arrived,1t

isintended [that the-crew of thi-s shipk B `pull upon vthe float orfloats, two or more being generally provided for each submarine, untilthe `floats `are immediately over Athe sunken vessel, after which thefloats are disconnected from the cables 21. The connection Vof thebightportion ofthe cable With the reel 20 is such that when a hard pullis applied to the cable, this connection Will be disengaged so that thecable will be disposed only about the roller 17. Assuming that therescuing ship B has disconnected the floats, a suitable length of chaincarrying the grapple shown in Figures 8 and 9 is attachedto one end ofthe cable, While the other end thereof is brought onto a. suitableWindlass or winch C which forms part `of the equipment of the rescuingship. Vhen this Windlass is turned, it is apparent that thecable 21`will be reeled in andv that the grapple device will be lowered andguided to the roller 17, the grapple and the chain passing between theguide plate or grid 52 and `the roller. Upon passing through this spacethe Wings 62 ot the grapple are compressed to` ward the shank thereof,the springs L63 being held of course under tension.` Vhen the grapplerides between the roller 17 and the pawl 55, the ,previously compressedWings Willexpand and engage at the end of the pawl, as shown in Figure7. When such engagement has been made, it is apparent that the chainsmay be reeled in by the rescuing `ship for lifting the sunken submarine.Ifdesired, thegrapples might be omit-ted and replaced simply by asuitabley length of ordinary chain which may be threaded around ltheroller `17 and both ends then attached to a hoistor Windlass for liftingthe sunken ship. Y ,v 1

In `Figures, 10 to 13, inclusivefl have shown my invention adaptedfor-use "in connect-ion Withsurface vesselsf In this in stance I providea plurality `oli carriers designated broadly by the `numeral 64,` whichare located uponthe deck orother convenient portion of the shipatvspa'ced-` points, as clearly shown in Figure 13. Eachv of thesecarriers includesa cage-like `frame including uprights 65 connected at`their upper K ends by longitudinal and transverse strips 66y andy 67,respectively, from the latter of Whichdepend U-shaped `supports 68 whichhave connected therewith saddle members 69 of curved shape. Each ofthese cages is designed' to contain` afloat 70 formed with an elongatedand preferably cylindrical hermeticallysealed tank. The tank may lbe,reinforced .by any desired means, such as the ring 71. lllustratedfandsecured upon-the sides thereof are brackets 72 withy which are connectedlongitudinally extending hand-holes 73 designed to be grasped byksurvivors of a disaster sothatthey may support themselves Yiin-the Wateruntillielp arrivesr rlhe-Lendsof `the tank carry eye bolts 74 forpurpose to be described. Mounted beneath the cage structure is a Vbase751equipped with suitable bearings Within which is journaled areel 76 onWhich is Wrapped a cable or other llexible member 77, the cable beingdoubled and having its bight engaged upon a hook 78 arranged as shown inFigure 12, this hook arrangement being exactly the sameas is provided onthc reel 20. Also journaledfin bearings on this base are groovedguiderollers, 79 and 80 under which are trained the `two stretches 82 of thecables. The roller 79 is relatively large and the arrangement of therollers and thehook78 lis such that when the cable is entirely unvvoundfrom the reel 76 its bight will disengage the hook 78 and the cable willbe engaged about the roller 79 alone in a. manner which will be obviousThe ends of the cable are connected withthe eye bolts 74 on the float.

Pivoted at 83 above the base 75 is a pawl 84 urged toward the roller-79by a spring 85. This paWl is constructed in the same manner and is forthe same purposeas the pavvl 56 described in connection With the lirstform of the device.

Assumingthat a ship equipped with the apparatus should sink yit is ofcour-scapparent'that the floats 70 will all rise out ot their supportingcages 64 and will, ascend to the surfacelof the body of Water, asindicated in Figure 13, the cable 77 `unreeling.

, The presence of these floats on the surface Will indicate to otherships that there Vhas been a leak and they Will also serve to locate thesunken ship so that' the proper steps may be taken to ei'ect salvagingin the same manner as described in connection With'the l tm of properapparatus the submerged ship may be raised and salvaged.

`From-the foregoing description and a study ofthe drawings'it Willbeapparent that I have thus provided a comparatively sim-y ple,inexpensivev and easily installed apparatus which will be veryconvenient lfor the purpose specied and which on account of the ifewnessof the parts is not likely to be- `come deranged so that it-shouldilogically remain for a long time in proper condition tor instant`servicel whenever the exigenciesof the occasion may demand. Y f vVIVhile Iliave shown and describedthe preferred embodiments of myinvention,"it is of course to be understoodV that I reserve the right tomake such changes inthe form, Vconstruction and arrangement rvof partsas will not depart li'oint-he` spirit,` of the vinvention or thescopeojfth'esubjoined claims.v

I claim:

l. In Yan apparatus forraisingisunken connected with the float, aplurality of rotatably mounted catch devices engaging the' float -fornormally holding vit` within the chamber, and means connected withallotthe catches and operable from a'iemote point whereby to etl'ect releasethereot simultaneously. Y

2. In lan apparatus for raising sunken ships, an open't-oppcd chamberwithin'the ship, a floatV mounted within said' chamber, guide rollerswithin the chamber beneath the loat,

a windlass journally 'mounted within the chamber, accable doubled `andVhaving'its bight portion detachably*connected with the windlass, theresultant stretches of the cable being wrapped about the windlass andtrained under the guide rollers .with-the ends con. iicct-ed with thel'loat, aplurality of rotatably l mounted catch devicesengagingthe-float for normally holding itwithin the chamber, and meansconnected with. all of the catches and opei'able from a remote pointywhereby yto e'llect release thereof simultaneously, said meanscomprising crank arms on the catches and flexible members connected withthe crank arms, trained over. guides, and connected with a commonactuating element within the ship. i

3. An apparatus for recovering sunken d d d Y whereby to holdthe mast iny.horizontal inactive position and,y to maintain it in .telenships,coinprising afloat, means for mounting the loatupon a ship, a.reel Journally mounted and carrying a cable secured to and' woundthereon, guider rollers. adjacent the reel under which the cable islpassed, the freer ends of the cable beingsecuredto the'float, f thecable'being doubledfai'id havingl its bight portion detachably engagedupon the reelZ wherebygto automatically release frointhe reeland engageabout one ofsaid guide rollers whenthe cable is totally unwound, and apivoted-pawlgad]acent the last named roller adapted to be engaged by. agrapple engagedA with an end or' the fea-ble' subsequent to itsdisconnection 'from the float.'

ships,fcomprising a liioat, means ior'mount-V f ing the float upon aship, a reel journally mounted andl vcarrying a cable securedto 'andwound thereon, guide rollers adjacent they reel under which thecable ispassed, the free vends oi" the cable being secured tothe float,

and aipivoted catch:'device-'adjacent one roller in combination with'agrappleadapted' to'k be connected with one1 end of thecable subsequentto its disconnection fromv the' iloat, the said catch.I s

5; Inv an apparatus of thecharacte'rde# grapple f being adapted toengage scribed, a chamber in Athe hull-of` a Aship, av iioa-tjwithin'thechamber, a windlass iii the" chamber, a Iiexible member secured to :andwrapped about the windlas's andconnected with'the float, `a normallyvtelescoped aerial' mast pivoted upon the float, means normally tendingto swing the mast intofulgirightv position, )and simultaneouslyreleasable catch means for holding the fioat Within the Ichamber andholding the mast in horizontal inoperative position upon the float.6.'In yan fapparatus of the' character Ldescribed," a float, aiflexiblemember connected with the iloat, a'windlass mechanism carrying theflexible member, an aerial mast pivoted upon the float, means normallytend-` ing to vswing themast into vuprightl position,vv

a reel, a conductor secured'to andwrapped about the yreel and connectedwith the mast,

and a plurality ofcatch devices-for holding 1 10 having a portionengaging the mast and' normally' holding the same in horizontal in# thefloat upon the-ship, fone catch fdevice operative position upon thefloat.

7. In adeviceofithe character described, a float, a Windlass mountedonfthe' ship, a flexible member securedto' and wrapped aboutthefwindlass` and connected with'the float,` a telescopic mast pivotedupon the lloat-,fineans tending `to swing the mast into verticalposition, meanstending to extend' thetelescopic mash-and a: plurality ofcatch devices engaging the float for .holding the same upon the ship,onevcatch device having ak hook-like? extension engaging over the endofY the mast inabutting relation vthereto scoped position.

'JL-'An apparatus :for recovering sunkenr and with the ship, a pluralityof upright rotatable rods having lateralmembers normally engaging theedges of the float, said rods carrying crank arms, an actuating memberextending into the hull of the ship, and flexible members, connectedwith said actuating member and with said arms whereby all of said rodsmay be turned simultaneously to eect release of the float.

9. In a ship salvaging device, a float mounted within the hull of a shipand adapted to be released from within the hull, a main guide roller, awindlass, a flexible member doubled intermediate its ends and detachablyengaged and wrapped about the windlass, the resultant stretches of thecable being disposed at opposite sides of said guide roller with theends connected with the float, a guard member'located beneath the guideroller in spaced relation thereto and having a guide extensionterminating adjacent the windlass, the guard having an opening therein,a catch ydevice pivoted beneath the guard and having one end spring-Vpressed through the opening, in combination with a grapple designed tobe connected with the cable subsequent to disconnection thereof from thefloat whereby the grapple may be drawn under said guide roller andengaged with said end of the catch device.

l0. In an apparatus of the character described, a chamber built into thehull of a ship, a float seating within and normally closing the chamber,signaling means carried Vby the float, Va reel journaled within thechamber and carrying a hook, a pair of spaced guide rollers, a cabledoubled and Wrapped upon the reel with its bight engaged upon the hook,the two stretches of the cable being engaged under Vsaid rollers andconnected with the float, catch means adjacent one roller adapted to beengaged by a grapple led thereto by the cable, and means for securingthe float within the chamber including rotatably mounted catchesengaging the upper edge of the loat, hand levers connected with certainof said catches, arms on the other of said catches, and flexible membersconnected with said arms, trained over guide pulleys andl brought intothe ship. Y

In testimony whereof I a'Hx my signature.

' LEOPOLDO FIORILLO.

